CHIMPANZEES

Common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) live in tropical Africa, ranging from southern Senegal and Mali, across the forests of Central Africa north of the Congo River to western Tanzania and Uganda. They live in patriarchal societies where males generally remain in the group and females transfer to other communities at sexual maturity. They live in groups that vary greatly in size but can be up to 150 individuals. These groups may break up into smaller groups and come back together – something called a fission-fusion society. Their range sizes vary greatly as well, depending on food and water availability, and group size among other factors. Adult chimpanzees make nests in trees every night to sleep in. Adult males will defend their territory from other communities of chimpanzees. Chimpanzees use tools, such a fishing rods to fish for algae, stone tools to crack open nuts, as well as leaves for drinking water. They form social bonds that last a lifetime. There are four subspecies of chimpanzees.